How to Become a 911 Dispatcher in Norman, Oklahoma

The Communications Division of the Norman Police Department provides emergency services to both internal and external customers, including public safety agencies, non-public safety agencies, and the general public. The Communications Division provides services to the following agencies:

Norman Police Department

Norman Fire Department

EMSstat EMS

Little Axe Volunteer Fire Department

Norman Animal Welfare

There are currently 18 911 dispatchers and 6 communications managers/supervisors employed in Norman’s Communications Division.

Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment in Norman

911 dispatchers (communications officers) must possess a set of minimum requirements to qualify for employment with the Norman Police Department. You must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, and experience answering complaints and providing information is desirable.

You must also possess a specific set of skills in the following:

Ability to extract information from irate or irrational individuals

Ability to follow oral and written instructions

Ability to make critical decisions

Ability to operate a computer terminal

Ability to remain calm in highly stressful situations

Data entry

Effective oral communications and interpersonal skills

You are not eligible for employment as a 911 dispatcher in Norman if you have:

Three or more hazardous moving violations within the past 2 years

A felony drug usage/possession/distribution within the past 5 years

Any arrests (with charges filed) for a crime in the past 3 years

Any misdemeanor drug use in the past 2 years

A dishonorable discharge from the military

Many individuals also choose to pursue a degree from an accredited college or university in a number of programs, such as: communications, criminal justice, public safety, emergency communications, or homeland security. Although programs in emergency communications do not exist, these similar programs allow students to gain a solid framework in topics such as:

Business management

Effective communication

Ethics in the criminal justice system

Public administration

Public relations

Organizational behavior

Disaster preparedness

State and local government operations

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment in Norman and Complete Pre-Employment Testing

To be considered for employment as a 911 dispatcher in Norman, you must complete an application for employment and mail it, along with all required, supporting documents, to:

The City of Norman
Human Resources Department
201-C West Gray
Norman, OK 73069

If you are chosen as a candidate for a 911 operator job, you will be contacted by the Department to take a data entry test. You will only be considered for the position upon passing the data entry test. You must achieve a net accuracy of 130 kpm in data entry.

From there, you can expect to undergo an extensive background investigation. Before being hired as a 911 dispatcher, you will need to pass a psychological test, a polygraph examination, and a drug screen.

Step 3. Complete New Hire Training

As a new 911 dispatcher in the Communications Division of the Norman Police Department, you will be required to CPR certification and certification as a:

Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications Terminal Operator

Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)

You must also be able to maintain these certifications while employed as a 911 operator.